5.0 from 6 votes
Manhattan
Made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, a Manhattan is a classic cocktail with a long history and an almost unchanging recipe. And it's a strong drink, too!
Prep Time
2 mins
Total Time
2 mins
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 198 kcal
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey or bourbon whiskey (1/4 cup, see note 1)
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth (2 tablespoons, see note 2)
- 2 to 3 dashes old-fashioned bitters or Angostura bitters (1/8 teaspoon)
- 1 maraschino cherry or orange peel, for garnish (see note 3)
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Fill glass 3/4 full with ice. Using a bar spoon, stir until well chilled, about 30-45 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or an orange peel.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Whiskey: Rye whiskey, the traditional choice for a Manhattan, has a spicy, aggressive flavor and its mash must be made from at least 51% rye. Bourbon is sweeter in flavor and its mash must be made from at least 51% corn. It also must be made in the United States to be called "bourbon."
- Sweet vermouth: A fortified wine (made from grapes) that tastes sweet and bitter with notes of botanicals (herbs, roots, and barks) and caramel.
- Cherry: I prefer Luxardo brand cherries or brandied cherries in a Manhattan.
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware: The Manhattan is traditionally served in a cocktail glass (similar to a martini glass) or a coupe glass.
- Big batch: To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) whiskey, 8 ounces (1 cup) sweet vermouth, and 20 dashes bitters in a pitcher. Have ice, glassware, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Garnish: Instead of the maraschino cherry, an orange peel is another classic garnish. Some creative mixologists will substitute a lemon peel.
- Cherry juice: For extra sweetness, add a splash of maraschino cherry juice.
- Shaken, not stirred: For a frothy surface, shake the cocktail with ice in a shaker before straining into a chilled glass.
- Brooklyn cocktail: Substitute 1/2 ounce (1 tbsp.) EACH dry vermouth and maraschino liqueur for the sweet vermouth. Substitute Picon bitters for the angostura bitters.
- Brandy Manhattan: Substitute brandy for the whiskey (especially popular in Wisconsin and Minnesota).
- Cuban Manhattan: Substitute dark rum for the whiskey.
- Dry Manhattan: Substitute dry vermouth for the sweet vermouth and substitute a lemon twist for the maraschino cherry.
- Perfect Manhattan: Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth.
- Rob Roy: Substitute Scotch whisky for the rye whiskey.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cocktail
Calories
198kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
11g
(4%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Sodium
5mg
(0%)
Potassium
85mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
9g
(18%)
Vitamin A
2IU
(0%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1cocktail
Amount Per Serving
Calories 198
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cocktail | |
| Calories | 198kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 5mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 85mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 2IU | 0% |
| Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.